Verse 2.16: Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent [the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.

Would you consider yourself someone who does things the hard way or the easy way?

Take a moment and think about. . .carefully.

Okay? Got your answer? Personally, I use to think I was one to take the easy road, but upon closer inspection, I’ve come to realize that my tendency is really quite the opposite.

In fact, I think this is true for the majority of us, since for the most part, life in the material world seems pretty much like doing things the hard way.

The clear indication of this is our tendency to just not “get it.” For example, we all have experiences of trying to achieve something by doing the same thing over and over again thinking that “this time it will be different.” This pretty much sums up our experience in the material world—constantly hitting our heads against the wall without getting what we want.

That’s doing things the hard way, especially when it comes to spirituality.

photo: flickr/César Blanco

In fact, Einstein said it best, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

So here, Krishna is telling us, “I’m giving you the answer. In fact, not only Me, but the great souls, have concluded that the material body is temporary and the soul is eternal.” All we need to do is take this to heart.

But oh no, our ego keeps us thinking we know best and that we can figure it out on our own. But, what actually gets accomplished in the end with this thinking? Nothing. Unless you consider more frustration and anxiety progress.

Once again, we see the importance of seeking and accepting bona fide guidance, not just in our spiritual lives, but in everyday life as well. Can you imagine trying to learn all the parts of a car, how they function, and how they interact with one another on your own?

It’s not to say you couldn’t do it— it’s just that it’s the hard way! Instead we could find an expert mechanic and study under her guidance, thereby speeding up the entire process, not to mention increasing our efficacy.

In the end, it’s up to you. What are you going to choose in your material and/or spiritual life? The easy way or the hard way?

Vrindavan Rao was born into the bhakti tradition and grew up enveloped in it. However, her personal discovery of the bhakti path began in 2004 when she had the opportunity to go to a Vedic College in Belgium and since that time she has embraced it completely. Her love for travel has given her the opportunity to study Vedic texts, such as the Bhagavad-gita, in places such as India, Canada, Belgium, Ukraine and the United States under the guidance of several advanced practitioners.

She especially loves the Gita and refers to it as her “Guidebook for Life” since it contains practical answers for complicated questions and is currently writing a daily blog on every verse of the Gita. In addition, you can keep track of all the happenings of Everyday Bhagavad-Gita on Facebook and viaTwitter.

Her background is in science and she not only has a Bacherlor’s degree in Biochemistry, but also a Masters in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. In her free time she loves to write, read, give presentations, sing and work out.

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